Hood latch



Sept. 29, 1931. N. A. MEARS HOOD LATCH Filed Nov. 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet1 H LWWT mhT [rave fzzor" Jnarz .17. Jean? Patented Sept. 29, 1931UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NORTON A. HEARS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO FORGING & MANU- FACTURING 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,A CORPORATION 01' ILLINOIS HOOD LATCH Application filed November 7,1930. Serial No. 493,946.

My invention relates to a latch or closing means. One applicationthereof is as a hood latch for an automobile hood closure. One object isthe provision of such a latch or 5 closure which shall be ellicient andpositive in its action and which shall be easily actu ated. Anotherobject is the provision of a latch or locking device which shallyieldingly draw a lower edge of a hood closure 10 downwardly andinwardly toward a limiting abutment. Another object is the provision ofa closure which includes an interior locking device and an exteriorcontrol member adapted also to lift the closure to which the lockingdevice is applied. Other objects will appear from time to time in thecourse of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an inside view illustratingthe device in locking position;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar section showing the parts in unlocked position;and

Figure at is a section on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specificationand drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A generally indicates a frame of anautomobile which is provided with an upwardly extending abut mcnt- A Bindicates a side of an automobile hood closure, the lower edge 13 ofwhich is adapted to be opposed exteriorly to the abutment A Mounted onthe inner face of the hood closure B is the lock assembly plate orsupport generally indicated as C. It includes the bottom plate orhorizontal portion C cut away as at C and upwardly extending sideportions C terminating in ears C which may receive the bolts or rivetswhereby the assembly is secured in place. C is a similar securing car atthe bottom of the assembly. Each of the side portions C have an ear C,the two ears being ap proached and receiving the pivot member C passingtherethrough. (1 indicates a recurved portion of the member C whichserves as an abutment lip for the below described latch.

Mounted on this pivot member C is the handle and lever element generallyindicated as D. It includes the outwardly extending handle leverportionD which may terminate in the finger engaging ring D D indicates an innerenlargement slotted as at D. It will be understood that the hood B iscut away as at B in order to permit the passage of the handle member orlever D E generally indicates a latch member proper, herein shown as ofheavy wire or bar stock. It includes a lower hook member E anintermediate shoulder portion E whlch is connected by the angularportion E with an upper shank E The top of the shank is laterallyrecurved as at E the end E of this laterally recurved portion passingthrough the slot D. It is normally held against the inner end of saidslot as by the spring generally indicated as E which includes a bend Eabutting against one end of the aperture D, the coil spring portions Eand the recurved ends E which are formed to engage the end E of thelatch and hold said end at the inner end of the slot D G indicates anysuitable keeper, herein shown as including a stem G outwardly extendingfrom a base or plate G which may be secured in any suitable fashion tothe automobile, at a position properly spaced inwardly from the hood B.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practicaland operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in thesize, shape, number and disposi tion of parts without departing from thespirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings tobe taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather thanas limiting me to my specific showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

In locking automobile hoods, I find it dedraw a lower edge of the hoodclosure downwardly and inwardly. I find it also desirable to associatewith a concealed or inside hood latch an exterior handle or controlmember which serves to lift the hood after the latch has been released.

It will be seen from a consideration of Figures 2 and 3 that when thehook E is in looking position, as in Figure 2, the handle D is at thelower extremity of its rotation. The spring E draws the hook E upwardlyagainst the bar or pin G urging its upper portion E upwardly in the slotD. The inclination of the axis or line along which this thrust isdirected, as defined by the position in which the slot is shown inFigure 2, tends to draw the lower edge B of the hood B inwardly as wellas downwardly toward the abutment A The parts are so proportioned alsothat when the handle is lowered to full locking position, the member Ewill be to the right of a line passing through the junction between theopposed hook and pin, and the pivot C referring to the parts in theposition in which they are shown in Figure 2. 7

When the operator wishes to release the latch and lift the hood, hemerely rotates the lever D into the position in which it is shown inFigure 3. He thereby moves the upper end or shank E of the hook inwardlyaway from the hood, and withdraws the hook E outwardly toward the hood.

The effect of the initial upward movement of the handle C is to cause analmost directly downward movement of the hook C until it is freed fro-mcontact with the pin G An additional effect of the spring E is to tendto hold the hook against rotation in relation to the member D Theaperture C is of sufficient length to permit a lateral movement of theshank of the hook and as the handle C is rotated the hook is thrownlaterally in said slot.

lVhen the handle D is in the position shown in Figure 3 the hook is outof vertical alignment with the member G and the shank E is at the outerend of the aperture C When the operator lowers the handle D thefrictional engagement of the portion E? with the member ID causes alateral movement of the hook E which positions it beneath the pin GFurther rotation of the handle I) then draws the hook E upwardly intolocking contact and the end E is carried past a line drawn through thepin G and pivot C thereby holding the parts in locked position.

N otc that downward movement of the hook, and therefore upward movementof the handle D is limited by the engagement of the portion E of thehook member with the top of the member C This is shown for example inFigure 3. On the other hand the pad portion D by engaging the shank thefinish on the E, limits the downward movement of the handleD Thisprevents battering of the .handle against the top or bottom of theaperture B and thus prevents marring of handle or of the finish on thehood.

I claim:

1. In a hood closure securing means, the combination, with a hinged doormember to be latched, of a keeper within the hood, an actuating leverpivoted to the hood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generallyparallel with the inner face of the hood, including anoutwardly-extending handle portion, a latch pivoted to said lever withinthe hood, said latch including a hook, said lever being slotted toreceive an end of said latch, and yielding means for holding said latchend at a predetermined position in said slot.

2. In a hood closure securing means, the combination, with a hinged doormember to be latched, of a keeper within the hood, an actuating leverpivoted to the hood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generallyparallel with the inner face of the hood, including an outwardlyextending handle portion, a latch pivoted to said lever within the hood,said latch including a hook, said lever being slotted to receive an endof said latch, and yielding means for holding said latch end at apredetermined position in said slot, including a spring having a portionengaging one end of the slot, and a portion engaging the slotpenetrating portion of the latch.

3. In a hood closure securing means, the

combination, with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper withinthe hood, a latch actuating lever pivoted to said hood, for rotationabout a horizontal axis generally parallel with the inner face of thehood, including an outwardly extending handle portion, a latch pivotedto said lever within the hood, and including a hook and a shanktherefor, a guide inwardly projecting from the hood, apertured to permitthe passage therethrough of said shank, said shank including an oifsetportion engaging the top of said guide, and limiting the downwardmovement of the latch, and opposed portions of latch and lever adaptedto limit the rotation ofthe lever in the closing direction.

4. In a hood closure securing means, the combination, with a hinged doormember to be latched, of a keeper within the hood, an actuating leverpivoted to the hood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generallyparallel with the inner face of the hood, including an outwardlyextending handle portion and an inwardly extending slotted portion, anda latch within the hood, including alhook and a shank portionpenetrating said s 0t. 1

5. In a hood closure securin means, the combination, with a hinged oormember to be latched, of a keeper within the hood, an actuating leverpivoted to the hood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generallyparallel with-the inner face of the hood, including an outwardlyextending handle portion and an inwardly extending slotted ortion, and alatch within the hood, inclu in a hook and a shank portion penetratingsai slot, and yielding means for normally urging said penetrating shankportion upward y or inwardl alon said slot.

6. In a 00d 0 osure securing means, the combination, with a hinged doormember to be latched, of a keeper within the hood, an actuating leverpivoted to the hood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generallyparallel with the inner face of the hood, including an outwardlyextending handle portion and an inwardly extending slotted ortion, abase member within the hoo to which said lever is pivoted, said basemember including an apertured gluide portion below said pivot point, alate including a hook positioned below said guide portion, a shankpassing through the aperture in aid guide portion and pivoted within the7. In a hood closure securing means, the combination, with a hinged doormember to be latched, of a keeper within the hood, an actuating ileverpivoted to the hood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generallyparallel with the inner face of the 00d, including an outwardlyextending handle portion and an inwardlyextending slotted portion, abase member within the hood, to which said lever is pivoted, said basemember including an apertured guide portion below said pivot oint, alatch including a hook positioned low said guide portion, a shankpassing through the aperture 'in said guide portion and pivoted withinthe slot, said shank including an ofiset portion adapted to engage saidguide portion and 0 limit the ownward movement of the 8. In a hoodclosure securing means, the combination, with a hinged door member to belatched, of a keeper within the hood, an actuating lever pivoted to thehood, for rotation about a horizontal axis generally arallel with theinner face of the hood, inc udin an outwardly extending handle portionan an inwardly extending portion, a base member within the hood, towhich said lever is pivoted, said base member including an aperturedguide portion below said pivot oint, a latch including a hook positlonedlow said guidportion, a shank passing through the aperture in said guidertion and pivoted to said inwardly exten 'ng portion, said shankincluding an ofiset portion adapted to engage said guide portion and tolimit the NORTON A. MEARS.

